Our continual efforts in fostering sustainable development in the communities that we serve have gained us prominent recognitions in both of the local and international arena, including but not limited to -
Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
We have been selected as an index component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices in the Asia Pacific Index for 7 consecutive years since 2017, recognizing our achievements in corporate sustainability. Launched in 1999, the indices are the first global sustainability indices that track the performance of leading companies in terms of their economic, environmental, and social sustainability efforts.
GRESB
Since 2021, we have achieved a 4-star performance rating for standing investments under GRESB. Launched in 2010, GRESB assesses and benchmarks performance of real assets in environmental, social and governance areas and provide standardized and validated data to capital markets.
MSCI ESG rating
In 2023, Hang Lung Properties’ MSCI ESG rating was upgraded from A to AA. The ratings are designed to assess how well companies manage the environmental, societal and governance risks that have a material financial impact compared with their peers.
Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series
With our continuous commitment in promoting sustainability in terms of corporate governance, environmental, social and work environments, we were selected in the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index and the Hang Seng (Mainland and Hong Kong) Corporate Sustainability Index for 14 consecutive years, which were launched in July 2010. The indices are the first of their kind in Hong Kong and are a vital reference tool for the investment community and the general public as a benchmark for socially responsible investments and for tracking the stock price performance of constituent companies.
Caring Company Scheme
We have named a “Caring Company” by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service for 14 consecutive years, a reaffirmation of our commitment to corporate social responsibility and related achievements in this area. The recognition scheme raises public awareness of good corporate citizenship as demonstrated by the business sector. Awarded companies have demonstrated inspiring corporate social responsibility initiatives through caring for the community, their employees and the environment.
Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED)
In the international realm, we benchmark our environmental performance with a very high standard, namely the gold level or above of the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) Core and Shell certification issued by the U.S. Green Building Council. By the end of 2023, 11 of our 11 buildings in mainland China were awarded gold or above certifications or pre-certifications under LEED.
In Hong Kong, our residential project, 23-39 Blue Pool Road, also received the Gold Level certificate under the LEED for Homes. It is thus far the largest project in China to gain the certification, as well as the first project in the world registered under the International Pilot Scheme.
BEAM Plus
Hang Lung’s headquarters, the Standard Chartered Bank Building, also a prestigious Grade A office property in Central, has achieved the Platinum Rating of Final Assessment under the BEAM Plus V1.2 for Existing Building of the Hong Kong Green Building Council. It is the first commercial building in Hong Kong to have achieved this recognition, reaffirming the efforts we have made to adopt environmentally friendly practices throughout our portfolio in order to contribute to a sustainable community. The Peak Galleria has also achieved the Gold Rating of Final Assessment under the BEAM Plus V1.1 for Existing Building.
We also benchmark the environmental performance of our buildings in Hong Kong with particular aspects of the BEAM Plus Existing Buildings V2.0 Selective Scheme. In 2018, Baskerville House, Grand Plaza and its Office Tower Two attained an Excellent Grade in the Energy Use aspect of the BEAM Plus Existing Buildings V2.0 Selective Scheme.
Healthy Building Certifications
We also aim to improve the wellbeing of our building occupants. We have applied for WELL certification for our new buildings and existing buildings undergoing major enhancement works since 2019.
In January 2023, we achieved the WELL Health-Safety Rating (WELL HSR) from the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) for 19 properties located in Hong Kong and 8 cities in mainland China including all shopping malls and office towers in our Mainland portfolio. The WELL HSR was first created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and consists of operational interventions that can be made to help mitigate its spread, as well as the spread of similar diseases.
As of December 2023, nearly 80% of our total construction floor area has either been certified with or has applied for WELL or WELL HSR. This includes our Plaza 66 in Shanghai, which is WELL Platinum certified, and our newly built 228 Electric Road, which has obtained a WELL Gold pre-certification.
